What I learned after enlistment
Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4426
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:33 pm
- Location: Wyoming and Arizona
What I learned after enlistment
Having been raised in a small remote Wyoming ranch town in the pre-television days, there were a heckuva lot of things I never knew existed before I enlisted right after high school. Started noticing this the first day of basic training
grits
SOS
ketchup on eggs
drinking fountains for "blacks" and "white" off base.
hand jive
chittlins (sp?)
Must be others, the memories grow dim after almost 60 years.
Anybody want to add to this.?
grits
SOS
ketchup on eggs
drinking fountains for "blacks" and "white" off base.
hand jive
chittlins (sp?)
Must be others, the memories grow dim after almost 60 years.
Anybody want to add to this.?
Re: What I learned after enlistment
.
My first lesson, when I enlisted, was: "NEVER volunteer for ANYTHING"..........
I loved midnight chow: SOS with a couple of fried eggs on top - it stayed with me throughout those cold winter nights, on the flight line.
.
My first lesson, when I enlisted, was: "NEVER volunteer for ANYTHING"..........
I loved midnight chow: SOS with a couple of fried eggs on top - it stayed with me throughout those cold winter nights, on the flight line.
.
Re: What I learned after enlistment
For one thing, Racism.....Mostly from southern boys, and Blacks.....
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
-
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 583
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:42 am
Re: What I learned after enlistment
So true to this dayPete44ru wrote:.
My first lesson, when I enlisted, was: "NEVER volunteer for ANYTHING"..........
I loved midnight chow: SOS with a couple of fried eggs on top - it stayed with me throughout those cold winter nights, on the flight line.
.
- Griff
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 20864
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
- Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Pick the times you volunteer with care. Got some of my duty that way... and also some of the hardest! But, for grunt work, I seemed to get passed by when it time to be "volunteered"... Guys than never volunteered for anything were the first one "volunteered"!
The 1st day of boot camp was an eye-opener. Having grown up in the "city", attended non-segregated schools, I found the amount of racism surprising... from all quarters. I'd always found my friends based on their character and numbered Hispanics and blacks amongst them... Part of being a "spotted", redhead, I was always the minority!
The 1st day of boot camp was an eye-opener. Having grown up in the "city", attended non-segregated schools, I found the amount of racism surprising... from all quarters. I'd always found my friends based on their character and numbered Hispanics and blacks amongst them... Part of being a "spotted", redhead, I was always the minority!
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 2268
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:23 pm
Re: What I learned after enlistment
In 1958 I went to enlist in the AF. At the center at Milwaukee they tested us for the physical. I flunked, too heavy and high BP. They put me up for the night in a hotel. The plan was to see if my BP would come down after a nights rest. Went back the next day and it was all draftee`s for their physical. The difference was bigger than day/night. Where all us volunteering were treated well the day before now everyone was hollered at and shoved around like Andersonville. I flunked out again and at that time I felt like the biggest failure on earth. I took the train home but didn't go home. I went and seen a Army recruiter. He lied and promised me somehow that I would get right in. Back to Milwaukee again and it was the same exact exam people that remembered me and gave me the bum`s rush again. Later during Vietnam I both tried to enlist and had physicals for the draft. I had to get my BP checked every 6 months for the draft all the way through the war. Flunked them all for the same reason. Then later I got in a terrible MC wreck. The nurse checked my BP and I said, off the chart, huh? On no sir, you have perfect blood pressure. Ever since I have had perfect BP. God didn't want me in the service.
-
- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1049
- Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:12 pm
- Location: Bushwhacker Capitol, Missouri
Re: What I learned after enlistment
SOS was always there.
I don't remember ever seeing anyone eat it.
My first rule of not volunteering was, don't enlist!
A lot of good that did.
I don't remember ever seeing anyone eat it.
My first rule of not volunteering was, don't enlist!
A lot of good that did.
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4559
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:52 pm
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Learned a trick from a clever draftee or enlistee, probably because he came from an Army family. It worked very well for me all during the time I had KP in Basic Training and some advanced training, as well.
Grab a cloth, head to the coffee urns and other stuff made out of brass or stainless steel, and start polishing like crazy, before anybody asks. It kept me away from all the other stuff, like peeling spuds, serving and cleaning, cleaning up and sweeping the floor. And the Mess Sergeant liked it - all gleaming stuff!
It doesn't work at home.
Grab a cloth, head to the coffee urns and other stuff made out of brass or stainless steel, and start polishing like crazy, before anybody asks. It kept me away from all the other stuff, like peeling spuds, serving and cleaning, cleaning up and sweeping the floor. And the Mess Sergeant liked it - all gleaming stuff!
It doesn't work at home.
Re: What I learned after enlistment
You gotta be kidding. I was born in Kansas (1938), raised in California (1943-1969) and for the last 46 years have lived in Arkansas. Trust me on this...I didn't have to move to the south to learn about racism. I'll concede that maybe in CA they did a better job about hiding it in public.BlaineG wrote:For one thing, Racism.....Mostly from southern boys, and Blacks.....
-
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:24 pm
- Location: West MI
Re: What I learned after enlistment
I found out what happened on day one after calling an NCO "sir" .......
good for me that pushups were a breeze
spaceman
good for me that pushups were a breeze
spaceman
I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Long story short, I was called into the NCOIC's office and ask "Who is Col. XXXX?" My response was nobody (heck I grew up around him and let's just say it was a good thing he didn't have a shotgun handy when he and the wife came home early one night ). I found our very quickly that a Col. in the USAF was somebody.spaceman spiff wrote:I found out what happened on day one after calling an NCO "sir" .......
good for me that pushups were a breeze
spaceman
Jeepnik AKA "Old Eyes"
"Go low, go slow and preferably in the dark" The old Sarge (he was maybe 24.
"Freedom is never more that a generation from extinction" Ronald Reagan
"Every man should have at least one good rifle and know how to use it" Dad
"Go low, go slow and preferably in the dark" The old Sarge (he was maybe 24.
"Freedom is never more that a generation from extinction" Ronald Reagan
"Every man should have at least one good rifle and know how to use it" Dad
Re: What I learned after enlistment
.
I'll say one thing further, about K.P. - you soon learn (or, had better learn) how to catnap/sleep anywhere/anytime.
To this day, I can still drop to any kind of hard flooring or dirt, and be asleep within a minute or so - which came in handy during the exotic Southeast Asian vacation tours that my Uncle gave, back in the mid-60's.
.
I'll say one thing further, about K.P. - you soon learn (or, had better learn) how to catnap/sleep anywhere/anytime.
To this day, I can still drop to any kind of hard flooring or dirt, and be asleep within a minute or so - which came in handy during the exotic Southeast Asian vacation tours that my Uncle gave, back in the mid-60's.
.
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Sir: I didn't go to the south, the south always came to me...Washita wrote:You gotta be kidding. I was born in Kansas (1938), raised in California (1943-1969) and for the last 46 years have lived in Arkansas. Trust me on this...I didn't have to move to the south to learn about racism. I'll concede that maybe in CA they did a better job about hiding it in public.BlaineG wrote:For one thing, Racism.....Mostly from southern boys, and Blacks.....
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
-
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:09 pm
- Location: Arequipa, Peru till 2020
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Greetings
What I learned ...
To do exactly what I was told to do... Nothing more, nothing less.
At basic I was one of 9 in Alpha Company who were not draftees. We 9 were treated vastly different.
Then I was high firer in BRM ( Basic Rifle Marksmanship ) for the whole Brigade of 1000. DI took me aside and said " Fester you just made me look good". Never had "extra duty" again. CO during inspection stopped in front of me and said in a very load voice "Fester your rifle is the only clean rifle I have seen". Then much quieter he said " You made me look good with the Coronel. I will remember you". I was a PFC coming out of basic. Bottom line.. do your best. It makes the chain of command look good and generally the higher ups will take notice and remember.
Mike in Peru Armor 1971-74
What I learned ...
To do exactly what I was told to do... Nothing more, nothing less.
At basic I was one of 9 in Alpha Company who were not draftees. We 9 were treated vastly different.
Then I was high firer in BRM ( Basic Rifle Marksmanship ) for the whole Brigade of 1000. DI took me aside and said " Fester you just made me look good". Never had "extra duty" again. CO during inspection stopped in front of me and said in a very load voice "Fester your rifle is the only clean rifle I have seen". Then much quieter he said " You made me look good with the Coronel. I will remember you". I was a PFC coming out of basic. Bottom line.. do your best. It makes the chain of command look good and generally the higher ups will take notice and remember.
Mike in Peru Armor 1971-74
A sinner saved by FAITH in the Blood of Jesus Christ &teaching God´s Word in Peru. John 3:36
Tanker 71-74 NRA Life Ready to Defend the Constitution from enemies within and without.
Tanker 71-74 NRA Life Ready to Defend the Constitution from enemies within and without.
Re: What I learned after enlistment
A good friend of mine I have breakfast with in the mornings, said when he got drafted, they asked him, "What do you like to do? "Well sir, I really like camping, hunting and fishing!!!" The guy says " Have I got a job for you!!!!". Handed him a rifle and sent him to Nam where he got to camp out and hunt a LOT!! He says, " What on earth was I thinkin!!!!"?
Re: What I learned after enlistment
First thing I remember REALLY learning after enlistment was that standing in line at the receiving station next to an idiot that got drunker than Cooter Brown's dog on the flight down, who in a very loud and clear voice commented on the size of the chest of the female DI walking in front of us and what he would like to do to the same items, can be a very DANGEROUS place to be.
Rob
Rob
Proud to be Christian American and not ashamed of being white.
May your rifle always shoot straight, your mag never run dry, you always have one more round than you have adversaries, and your good mate always be there to watch your back.
Because I can!
Never grow a wishbone where a backbone ought to be.
May your rifle always shoot straight, your mag never run dry, you always have one more round than you have adversaries, and your good mate always be there to watch your back.
Because I can!
Never grow a wishbone where a backbone ought to be.
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Sometimes volunteering is good. While in basic at Fort Polk in 68 they had us sitting in a circle explaining about the next day and night activities which was the night fire and obstacle course. One guy laughed and the drill sgt said in a fearful voice " the next one of you talks your on KP. Well I did it, I said some smart remark and was told I was on KP the next day. No KP wasn't fun but crawling in the mud wasn't either. Sometimes you gotta play your cards. By the way I don't think I ever volunteered again. Not bad for a dumb boy from Arkansas
Carroll
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Ah youth! If only we had learned to engage the brain before the mouth life would have been much simpler. Maybe not as much fun, but certainly less painful.Daisyman wrote:A good friend of mine I have breakfast with in the mornings, said when he got drafted, they asked him, "What do you like to do? "Well sir, I really like camping, hunting and fishing!!!" The guy says " Have I got a job for you!!!!". Handed him a rifle and sent him to Nam where he got to camp out and hunt a LOT!! He says, " What on earth was I thinkin!!!!"?
Last edited by jeepnik on Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jeepnik AKA "Old Eyes"
"Go low, go slow and preferably in the dark" The old Sarge (he was maybe 24.
"Freedom is never more that a generation from extinction" Ronald Reagan
"Every man should have at least one good rifle and know how to use it" Dad
"Go low, go slow and preferably in the dark" The old Sarge (he was maybe 24.
"Freedom is never more that a generation from extinction" Ronald Reagan
"Every man should have at least one good rifle and know how to use it" Dad
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 2569
- Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:51 pm
Re: What I learned after enlistment
A soldier I was stationed with after getting back from the vacation beat the system by doing what he was told to do, which was (as AFVN radio would remind us) "Take your malaria pill every day"...Which he did... Lots of us didn't because you got the runs if you did... He got sent home early because he always had the runs!!
"IT IS MY OPINION, AND I AM CORRECT SO DON'T ARGUE, THE 99 SAVAGE IS THE FINEST RIFLE EVER MADE IN AMERICA."
WIL TERRY
WIL TERRY
Re: What I learned after enlistment
I did really well on that battery of tests they give the recruits. Right off the bat, they tried their damdust to get me in OCS. They got mean when I wouldn't accept the honor.
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
-
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:38 pm
- Location: Early, TX
- Contact:
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Now that I think about it, seems like yesterday.
18-1/2 YO upon being inducted. Apparently did well on the tests like Blain. A captain along with a Major rode me very hard to sign NOW for OCS. I refused countless times, finally saying who is going to respect a 19 YO officer going to Nam? This was at FT. Lewis. The DI's then rode me harder for a couple of weeks and it was mostly over. They promoted me to acting corporal for the rest of basic.
I never did KP or have to stand a fire watch in Basic.
My uncle a Lt. Col. in the AF advised me not to go to OCS unless I had a death wish. Glad I listened to him. The rest is history.
18-1/2 YO upon being inducted. Apparently did well on the tests like Blain. A captain along with a Major rode me very hard to sign NOW for OCS. I refused countless times, finally saying who is going to respect a 19 YO officer going to Nam? This was at FT. Lewis. The DI's then rode me harder for a couple of weeks and it was mostly over. They promoted me to acting corporal for the rest of basic.
I never did KP or have to stand a fire watch in Basic.
My uncle a Lt. Col. in the AF advised me not to go to OCS unless I had a death wish. Glad I listened to him. The rest is history.
- Old Ironsights
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 15084
- Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:27 am
- Location: Waiting for the Collapse
- Contact:
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Like all horror stories of old (does ANYONE fine Lovecraft even vaguely unsettling? I sure never did... and I was reading him at 7... as well as Poe...) I found Reality nowhere nearly as bad as projected by Coots and Never-Beens.
Simply, I LOVED every minute of Basic/Advanced Training - much to the chagrin of the DIs.
Basic (Ft. Sill, '85) was simply hot and muggy. I was assigned to KP ONCE before the Mess Sergeant kicked me out at about 1500 on my first day... because, having done a quick systems analysis, I reorganized the (apparently intentionally) inefficient KP crew into something that actually not only kept up with the incoming trays and flatware, but gave us non-shoutable downtime. Not allowed.
He'd have had me shot if it was up to him, but since I had been a paid student "volunteer" in my HS Mess Hall... err... "Lunch room", I already had BTDT... and that was unacceptable... and I whas henceforth never "allowed"/"volunteered" to do KP ever again - for my entire time in Service.
Then, because of a quirk of my enlistment (I had time off between Basic and Advanced school), I neglected to show up at AIT on the cattle car, but rather drove in in my POV (parked it and turned in the keys to the CO) and had the temerity to actually wear Medical Issue sunglasses in formation, I was granted the singular honor of being the FIRST "Named" grunt of my class - (They couldn't pronounce my name anyway, so I got called either POV or "Hollywood") - and as such spent the rest of my Training Cycle on orders of Mandatory Exercise upon encountering ANY of the Company NCOs.
(That got particularly humorous when we were assigned a couple of Cadidiots finishing their summer break and we would get into exercising/shouting matches about who who would win the next Army/Navy game... I would declare "Navy" just to see how foaming they would get...)
Then there was the incident where the DIs were getting nasty and screwing up Marches by using D&C calls (then making whole platoons/companys exercise for the ensuing CF) I took a holiday weekend (no DIs) to teach all comers the Exhibition D&C I had learned in JROTC & ROTC.
That one landed me 3 hours of grass drills (DIs hate a smart-butt) but my troops could Drill. I was happy - and as I had already been Exercising from Day 1, the "punishment" was only a minor annoyance. (ahhh, youth)
Still, I was called on by the XO to demonstrate proper ALICE pack loadout (I had been hiking up in the Wind Rivers for several years as a yoot using ALICE gear), and the Senior DI (whose parking spot I had unknowingly stolen with my locked POV) colluded with me on a couple of really nasty, but effective, atypical training programs that kept our Company in the top ranking of the Cycle.
All in all, I loved every minute.
Simply, I LOVED every minute of Basic/Advanced Training - much to the chagrin of the DIs.
Basic (Ft. Sill, '85) was simply hot and muggy. I was assigned to KP ONCE before the Mess Sergeant kicked me out at about 1500 on my first day... because, having done a quick systems analysis, I reorganized the (apparently intentionally) inefficient KP crew into something that actually not only kept up with the incoming trays and flatware, but gave us non-shoutable downtime. Not allowed.
He'd have had me shot if it was up to him, but since I had been a paid student "volunteer" in my HS Mess Hall... err... "Lunch room", I already had BTDT... and that was unacceptable... and I whas henceforth never "allowed"/"volunteered" to do KP ever again - for my entire time in Service.
Then, because of a quirk of my enlistment (I had time off between Basic and Advanced school), I neglected to show up at AIT on the cattle car, but rather drove in in my POV (parked it and turned in the keys to the CO) and had the temerity to actually wear Medical Issue sunglasses in formation, I was granted the singular honor of being the FIRST "Named" grunt of my class - (They couldn't pronounce my name anyway, so I got called either POV or "Hollywood") - and as such spent the rest of my Training Cycle on orders of Mandatory Exercise upon encountering ANY of the Company NCOs.
(That got particularly humorous when we were assigned a couple of Cadidiots finishing their summer break and we would get into exercising/shouting matches about who who would win the next Army/Navy game... I would declare "Navy" just to see how foaming they would get...)
Then there was the incident where the DIs were getting nasty and screwing up Marches by using D&C calls (then making whole platoons/companys exercise for the ensuing CF) I took a holiday weekend (no DIs) to teach all comers the Exhibition D&C I had learned in JROTC & ROTC.
That one landed me 3 hours of grass drills (DIs hate a smart-butt) but my troops could Drill. I was happy - and as I had already been Exercising from Day 1, the "punishment" was only a minor annoyance. (ahhh, youth)
Still, I was called on by the XO to demonstrate proper ALICE pack loadout (I had been hiking up in the Wind Rivers for several years as a yoot using ALICE gear), and the Senior DI (whose parking spot I had unknowingly stolen with my locked POV) colluded with me on a couple of really nasty, but effective, atypical training programs that kept our Company in the top ranking of the Cycle.
All in all, I loved every minute.
C2N14... because life is not energetic enough.
מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין Daniel 5:25-28... Got 7.62?
Not Depressed enough yet? Go read National Geographic, July 1976
Gott und Gewehr mit uns!
מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין Daniel 5:25-28... Got 7.62?
Not Depressed enough yet? Go read National Geographic, July 1976
Gott und Gewehr mit uns!
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 2268
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:23 pm
Re: What I learned after enlistment
As said I never was in the military but I do have a KP story. In 1960 I was a fire fighter in Yosemite NP. A large lighting storm hit and we had some spot fires by lighting strikes to take care of. Several of us were flew into one by a chopper, we got it out and had to walk out. By that time there was a huge fire going on up above Hetch Hatchy. They soon had about a thousand Indians from AZ and NM and Red Hot`s on the fire. I got commandeered to wash pots and pans for the cook. Soon most of the Indians got the whistling runs. The cook bawled me out and said I had to do a better job. As I recall I was on that detail about 16 hours a day for over two weeks, maybe three. It`s all a blur now.
One of the Indians somehow got a hold of a bottle. His chief or fire boss read him the riot act. The guy couldn't speak a word of English and the chief turned him loose to find his own way home to AZ drunk and broke!
One of the Indians somehow got a hold of a bottle. His chief or fire boss read him the riot act. The guy couldn't speak a word of English and the chief turned him loose to find his own way home to AZ drunk and broke!
- Neil Casper
- Levergunner
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:51 am
- Location: Erie County, Ohio
Re: What I learned after enlistment
One of the things I learned was the meaning of "The Needs of the Service." It didn't matter what they promised, either verbally or in writing, the needs of the service ALWAYS comes first. If you were an air conditioning/refrigeration tech and they needed a truck driver, you were shifting gears baby!
neil
If it doesn't fit in my sea bag, I'm not going!
If it doesn't fit in my sea bag, I'm not going!
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Folks, looking back, except for the hospital time and the events leading up to it, I must admit I had a blast (though one of those did cost a hospital stay) in the service. All but one of my duty stations were in great places, and the one that wasn't was for a youngster full of testosterone and adrenalin.
Some scary times, sure. Some times off duty I don't fully remember, certainly (I think). I took full advantage of my youth, location, and the available distractions. I came out pretty much unscathed (except for now some of it is catching up with me).
Are there things I would change? Yes! But they would be the things that lead up to the aforementioned hospital time.
Some scary times, sure. Some times off duty I don't fully remember, certainly (I think). I took full advantage of my youth, location, and the available distractions. I came out pretty much unscathed (except for now some of it is catching up with me).
Are there things I would change? Yes! But they would be the things that lead up to the aforementioned hospital time.
Jeepnik AKA "Old Eyes"
"Go low, go slow and preferably in the dark" The old Sarge (he was maybe 24.
"Freedom is never more that a generation from extinction" Ronald Reagan
"Every man should have at least one good rifle and know how to use it" Dad
"Go low, go slow and preferably in the dark" The old Sarge (he was maybe 24.
"Freedom is never more that a generation from extinction" Ronald Reagan
"Every man should have at least one good rifle and know how to use it" Dad
Re: What I learned after enlistment
I remember my first day in the Army very well. First off I was five minutes late getting to the induction station. A Ssg read me the riot act, and after listening, reminded him I was not in the Army yet as I had not taken one step forward and said the Oath so he should treat a civilian with respect. Needless to say he became somewhat unhappy at that point. ( Yes, I was a smart aleck 20 yr old who knew everything) Later in the day he asked if I was in the Army now. I replied "yes Sgt I am at your disposal".
He disposed me to do 50 pushups, and splendid specimen that I was I completed 21 and gave out. We then took a Greyhound bus from Detroit to Ft Knox, Kentucky. We arrived at 10 Pm. I must back up and say it was 65 Degrees when we left Detroit and 33 degrees at Ft Knox. And I thought we went South. After some paperwork we went to the supply room where we received one blanket each. A Sp4 took us to the barracks(wooden wwII built, you could almost see through the walls) and there was no heat! When I dared to asked about the heat it was Oct 4th and the heat did not get turned on until Oct 10th. I knew then I was going to love the Army and was Glad I was drafted. No one had a coat and we were freezing under the thin blanket, finally a kid had a bright idea, we laid head to foot on the bottom bunk, and covered up with the blanket and the mattress from the top bunk.
Eventually I did adjust and came out a E-5, but that first day was quite an eye opener. God Bless. I forgot to mention this was October of 1964, a very good year to be drafted!
He disposed me to do 50 pushups, and splendid specimen that I was I completed 21 and gave out. We then took a Greyhound bus from Detroit to Ft Knox, Kentucky. We arrived at 10 Pm. I must back up and say it was 65 Degrees when we left Detroit and 33 degrees at Ft Knox. And I thought we went South. After some paperwork we went to the supply room where we received one blanket each. A Sp4 took us to the barracks(wooden wwII built, you could almost see through the walls) and there was no heat! When I dared to asked about the heat it was Oct 4th and the heat did not get turned on until Oct 10th. I knew then I was going to love the Army and was Glad I was drafted. No one had a coat and we were freezing under the thin blanket, finally a kid had a bright idea, we laid head to foot on the bottom bunk, and covered up with the blanket and the mattress from the top bunk.
Eventually I did adjust and came out a E-5, but that first day was quite an eye opener. God Bless. I forgot to mention this was October of 1964, a very good year to be drafted!
Member : NRA
Oklahoma Rifle Assoc.
NPPAS
TRUISM: if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. So, my advice is: Buy more guns!
Oklahoma Rifle Assoc.
NPPAS
TRUISM: if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. So, my advice is: Buy more guns!
Re: What I learned after enlistment
Before I enlisted (not drafted) I was working with the son of the owner. He did OCS, made Captain pretty quick, got good medals, and citations in Nam, and was one of the first that got RIFed in 1970 when they started to realize that they had too many Captains. They needed expendable 2nd, and 1st LTs, not valuable Captains.....Miss promotion to Major twice, and yer outta there. Bastards...boolitshooter wrote:Now that I think about it, seems like yesterday.
18-1/2 YO upon being inducted. Apparently did well on the tests like Blain. A captain along with a Major rode me very hard to sign NOW for OCS. I refused countless times, finally saying who is going to respect a 19 YO officer going to Nam? This was at FT. Lewis. The DI's then rode me harder for a couple of weeks and it was mostly over. They promoted me to acting corporal for the rest of basic.
I never did KP or have to stand a fire watch in Basic.
My uncle a Lt. Col. in the AF advised me not to go to OCS unless I had a death wish. Glad I listened to him. The rest is history.
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
- Ysabel Kid
- Moderator
- Posts: 27903
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:10 pm
- Location: South Carolina, USA
- Contact:
Re: What I learned after enlistment
I beg to differ - on the first part. I'm from "up north", and I can tell you I saw more racism from Yankees than anything down here. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist; just that I saw more of it up north.Mich Hunter wrote:So true to this dayPete44ru wrote:.
My first lesson, when I enlisted, was: "NEVER volunteer for ANYTHING"..........
I loved midnight chow: SOS with a couple of fried eggs on top - it stayed with me throughout those cold winter nights, on the flight line.
.
That being said, I see more racism from minorities than any other group - by far...
-
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 605
- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:37 am
- Location: high desert of southern caliphornia
Re: What I learned after enlistment
during a 'deployment' to sunny, s/e asia, I was told to sit in as right door gunner, a regular gunner was sick...to which I replied: "But sir, I'm not on flight status..."...to which he cheerfully replied: "So? what's the problem? here's your flight helmet, check the ammo...let's go."
I still wonder how someone with my MOS got into an aviation unit??? my MOS was infantry/arty/armor voice radio operator...I found out that the army puts you where they need bodies most.
I still wonder how someone with my MOS got into an aviation unit??? my MOS was infantry/arty/armor voice radio operator...I found out that the army puts you where they need bodies most.
if you think you're influencial, try telling someone else's dog what to do---will rogers
-
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:24 pm
- Location: West MI
Re: What I learned after enlistment
And so you must remember "Agony" and "Misery" ?rodeo kid wrote:I remember my first day in the Army very well. First off I was five minutes late getting to the induction station. A Ssg read me the riot act, and after listening, reminded him I was not in the Army yet as I had not taken one step forward and said the Oath so he should treat a civilian with respect. Needless to say he became somewhat unhappy at that point. ( Yes, I was a smart aleck 20 yr old who knew everything) Later in the day he asked if I was in the Army now. I replied "yes Sgt I am at your disposal".
He disposed me to do 50 pushups, and splendid specimen that I was I completed 21 and gave out. We then took a Greyhound bus from Detroit to Ft Knox, Kentucky. We arrived at 10 Pm. I must back up and say it was 65 Degrees when we left Detroit and 33 degrees at Ft Knox. And I thought we went South. After some paperwork we went to the supply room where we received one blanket each. A Sp4 took us to the barracks(wooden wwII built, you could almost see through the walls) and there was no heat! When I dared to asked about the heat it was Oct 4th and the heat did not get turned on until Oct 10th. I knew then I was going to love the Army and was Glad I was drafted. No one had a coat and we were freezing under the thin blanket, finally a kid had a bright idea, we laid head to foot on the bottom bunk, and covered up with the blanket and the mattress from the top bunk.
Eventually I did adjust and came out a E-5, but that first day was quite an eye opener. God Bless. I forgot to mention this was October of 1964, a very good year to be drafted!
spaceman
I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Re: What I learned after enlistment
spaceman spiff wrote:B-12-5 Ft Knox.....I remember the heck out of them...rodeo kid wrote:I remember my first day in the Army very well. First off I was five minutes late getting to the induction station. A Ssg read me the riot act, and after listening, reminded him I was not in the Army yet as I had not taken one step forward and said the Oath so he should treat a civilian with respect. Needless to say he became somewhat unhappy at that point. ( Yes, I was a smart aleck 20 yr old who knew everything) Later in the day he asked if I was in the Army now. I replied "yes Sgt I am at your disposal".
He disposed me to do 50 pushups, and splendid specimen that I was I completed 21 and gave out. We then took a Greyhound bus from Detroit to Ft Knox, Kentucky. We arrived at 10 Pm. I must back up and say it was 65 Degrees when we left Detroit and 33 degrees at Ft Knox. And I thought we went South. After some paperwork we went to the supply room where we received one blanket each. A Sp4 took us to the barracks(wooden wwII built, you could almost see through the walls) and there was no heat! When I dared to asked about the heat it was Oct 4th and the heat did not get turned on until Oct 10th. I knew then I was going to love the Army and was Glad I was drafted. No one had a coat and we were freezing under the thin blanket, finally a kid had a bright idea, we laid head to foot on the bottom bunk, and covered up with the blanket and the mattress from the top bunk.
Eventually I did adjust and came out a E-5, but that first day was quite an eye opener. God Bless. I forgot to mention this was October of 1964, a very good year to be drafted!
And so you must remember "Agony" and "Misery" ?
spaceman
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV